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Rum 101: Cocktail Recipes

Rum is a party spirit to its core. Whether it makes you want to jive in Jamaica or hula in Havana, rum brings a touch of the tropics to any evening.

So when we were invited to Chelsea speakeasy, GOAT, to learn how to mix, muddle and master a variety of rum cocktails – not to mention taste them, too – it was one of the easiest RSVPs of the week (natch).

One of the main things we learnt is that all rum cocktails stem from three key ingredients: the spirit, sugar and bitters. Stock your drinks cupboard with these and you’re ready to declare your bar open.

Time to banish rum and coke back to the 90s, we say. Here’s how to drink rum, grown up style:

Combine the sugar cube, water and bitters. Crush the sugar cube and stir until dissolved.

Add rum, lime juice, Cointreau, Orgeat and pomegranate. Shake well.

Strain over a glass of fresh ice to serve.

A few tips:

Whilst we were shaking and sipping (and certainly not slurring…), GOAT’s owner, head bartender and ‘Rum God’ (true story), Steve Mankletow, shared the following tips to help improve home-made cocktails:

– There is no need to invest in proper measuring tools. Just use a shot glass and add to your taste.

– Don’t stir with the ‘spoon’ side of a cocktail stirrer. It’s quicker and more effective to use the other end.

– For inspiration, take a look at the dessert section in your favourite cookbooks. Make note of the flavours used by the chefs and play around with these combinations in your cocktails.

GOAT’s bi-weekly Old Fashion Cocktail Club will help you shake and stir your way to a greater knowledge of spirits and cocktail making. Focusing on a different spirit each fortnight, block book Wednesdays out your diary, stat.